Crime Scene Cleanup: Turning Chaos into Clean

1/24/2024 (Permalink)

When life throws unexpected challenges our way, it's essential to have professionals who can tackle the mess left behind. SERVPRO of North Prince William County is your trusted partner in transforming chaotic situations back into clean and safe environments.

Safety First, Always

In situations where hazards are a concern, our primary focus is safety. Our approach is akin to navigating through challenging terrain with a flashlight - we follow OSHA and EPA protocols to ensure everyone's safety during the cleanup process. These situations often involve bloodborne pathogens, harmful chemicals, and other dangers. Our team handles these complex scenarios with the utmost care and professionalism, always treating your property and all involved parties with empathy and respect.

Cleaning Up After Difficult Situations

Once the authorities have concluded their investigations, it's our turn to step in and bring order to chaos. Many crime and accident scenes harbor blood and other hazardous contaminants, which can pose significant health risks. SERVPRO of North Prince William County is always ready to respond promptly, equipped with specialized training, protective gear, and extensive experience in safely cleaning trauma and crime scenes.

A Complicated Case: Fire, Water, and Tragedy

We recently had a case that exemplifies the diverse range of services we offer. In this particular instance, a property manager faced a deeply distressing situation. A tenant had intentionally set his condo on fire, which triggered the sprinkler system. Tragically, the tenant also jumped off a balcony to end his own life.

The aftermath of this case was a complex blend of fire damage, water damage from the sprinklers, and the emotional trauma of a life-threatening incident. In such a multifaceted situation, SERVPRO of North Prince William County was called upon to perform a delicate and intricate dance of fire remediation, water remediation, and crime scene cleanup.

What's in Our Cleanup Kit?

1. Fingerprint Powder and Evidence-Gathering Chemicals: Just like a skilled investigator dusts for fingerprints, we're here to clean up the mess left behind by law enforcement. Fingerprint powder and evidence-gathering chemicals can be tricky to handle, but our experts have the experience and tools to manage them effectively.
2. Tear Gas and Pepper Spray Residues: In some instances, crime scenes involve more than just a minor altercation. Lingering tear gas and pepper spray residues can be a persistent issue. Our team is well-prepared to clear the air and make your space habitable again.
3. Fire Extinguisher Residue: Fires are a significant challenge, and the aftermath can be just as daunting. Fire extinguisher residue can be pervasive, but our team has the expertise to thoroughly clean it up.
4. Blood, Bodily Fluids, and Tissue Remnants: Dealing with blood and bodily fluids can be emotionally taxing. Our highly trained professionals are here to remove, dispose of, and clean up these potentially hazardous substances, ensuring that your property is disinfected and deodorized.

Eliminating Bloodborne Pathogens

Our cleanup goes beyond surface cleaning. We handle the removal and disposal of bodily fluids, tissues, and other potentially pathogenic substances resulting from accidents, trauma, crimes, or unfortunate incidents. Our professionals don't merely clean; they disinfect and deodorize the structure, ensuring that no trace of the distressing incident remains.

Illegal Drug - "Meth" Labs

Residues from the production of illegal drugs like "meth" can be harmful and volatile. Our technicians follow federal and state guidelines to effectively clean all surfaces, ensuring that your space is safe and free from drug-related hazards.

When life throws a curveball and leaves you dealing with a challenging cleanup, remember that you don't have to face it alone. SERVPRO of North Prince William County is here to provide professional and empathetic assistance. Contact us today, and we'll restore order from chaos, ensuring that your space is clean and safe once more.

Contact SERVPRO of North Prince William County for Specialty Cleaning Services 

Contents Cleaning

1/17/2023 (Permalink)

We know what it’s like to lose your belongings to a fire. That’s why we offer content cleaning to help you recover from the effects of fire damage. If your clothes have been damaged in a fire, our professional team will spot and clean them for you. We can also advise you on what process is best for any specific piece of clothing or item.

Content cleaning is a service that can be done by professionals if your clothing has been damaged in a fire.

Although it may seem like a daunting task, each piece of content will be pre-spotted, pre-tested and thoroughly cleaned. Contents with smoke residue may need an additional ultrasonic cleaning process.

If you're feeling overwhelmed about how to proceed with cleaning your clothing after this unfortunate event, we've got you covered! We can help you get back on track and make sure that your items are restored to their former glory so that they look as good as new!

Each piece of content will be pre-spotted, pre-tested and thoroughly cleaned.

The first step in the cleaning process is pre-spotting, which involves a thorough inspection of each item to determine what damage it has sustained and whether it can be cleaned. If an item cannot be cleaned, we will discard it. Next, we thoroughly clean all items (including furniture) using our proprietary process that removes smoke residue while also preventing any new soiling from occurring.

Contents with smoke residue may need an additional ultrasonic cleaning process.

The contents of your items can be affected by smoke residue. Smoke can make an item smell like burnt or wet wood, or it may leave behind a yellow discoloration that won't wash out. Smoke residue can also cause the ink on labels to fade, which will make them illegible.

Smoke residue may need to be removed before you clean the item using other methods such as steaming and dry cleaning (using chemicals). Ultrasonic cleaning is one effective way of removing dirt and grime from objects but not all materials are suitable for this type of cleaning process so check with your dry cleaner first!

We'll help you get your belongings back in good shape after fire damage. 

We're here to help with our expert post-fire cleaning services. Whether you need help getting rid of the smell or repairing some of the physical damage left behind by fire, we'll fix everything up, so it looks like nothing ever happened. We'll even make sure all those pesky stains disappear from your carpeting so no one will ever suspect anything was amiss.

Our experience with these situations makes us uniquely qualified to handle any situation involving smoke or water damage. So, whether you've been through a kitchen fire recently or have just gotten back from vacation (and found out about another family member's house burning down), let us do what we do best: restore order after chaos has taken over!

We are proud to say that we offer some of the best prices in town for a wide range of services. We’re confident that our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee will give you peace of mind when dealing with your fire-damaged items, and we can help you get back on your feet quickly after an emergency like this!

Extending the life of your carpet

1/19/2022 (Permalink)

Whether you have been living in an apartment complex for 6 months or a two-story house for 10 years, everyone needs to be mindful of when they last had their carpet professionally cleaned. We realize that there are things around the house that are tossed aside and forgotten about, however maintaining clean carpets should not be one of them. Here at SERVPRO® of North Prince William county we understand life happens, like when your child spills a drink all over the carpet or the dog mistakes the carpet, for the grass outside. We get it, but we only want what's best for you and your health. 

Why Does My Carpet Need to be Professionally Cleaned? 

Many people have been exactly where you are now, thinking "I wipe up all spills and vacuum often, I am good to go." That simply is just not the case. And frankly this alone isn't good enough. It may not be evident to the naked eye, but carpets can house all sorts of dirt, bacteria, and allergens that can be harmful to your health. Carpets that are not well maintained can hold dust mites, molds, pet hair, dead skin cells, insect feces, and other particles deep-seated in their fibers. Below are three possible problems that can be the result of carpets that are not well-maintained.

Danger #1: Weak Immune System

• Everyday our bodies fight to keep us healthy and strong. However, living in an unclean environment, leads to being exposed to harmful bacteria, which can cause you to be more susceptible to diseases.
• Getting out carpets professionally cleaned helps to remove dust mites, bacteria and other allergens, which ultimately helps your family breathe easier and reduces the risk of colds and other health problems. As strange as it may sound, dirty carpet can negatively impact the airflow in your home.

Danger #2: Reduces the Life Span of the Carpet

• Not professionally cleaning your carpet allows for dirt to stay embedded inside the fibers of the carpet. Which ultimately will lead to the fibers breaking and wearing down.
• Regular vacuuming will keep your carpet looking good and prevent debris and dirt from embedding into the fibers.
• Keeping your vacuum in good shape will help keep your carpet in good shape. A vacuum that is half full will be much less effective than an empty one. Be sure to keep it cleaned out and keep up on the maintenance with it as well.

Danger #3: Odor in Carpet                                                         

• Professional cleaning companies can use top notch chemicals, to get out odors that regular vacuums or cleaners just simply cannot get out. A couple of these odors are dog urine and cigarette smoke. These odors almost always take a professional crew to come in and get rid of.

Do Not Worry! SERVPRO Can Help!

If you are unsatisfied with your carpet SERVPRO® of North Prince William county is here to help. We are open 24/7 and work to respond quickly to calls.  We care about your health and safety. 

Sewage Backup is Not Necessarily a “Do it Yourself” Job.

9/30/2020 (Permalink)

When you experience sewage backup, trust SERVPRO of North Prince William County to aid in your cleanup process properly.

Experiencing sewage backup is never a pleasant event. Did you know that harmful contaminants can pose serious health risks if not addressed quickly and properly?  Not only does this mess cause problems with your home, but it can cause problems with yours and your family’s health as well. It’s not an easy fix or an easy clean up when trying to handle the situation on your own.

If you’ve recently had sewage backup in your home or are looking for ways to prevent a sewage backup from happening and aren’t sure what to do, then continue reading. The following is a guide on everything you need to know about how to prevent, clean, and handle a sewage backup in your home. 

WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A SEWAGE BACKUP

There are important measures that should be taken in order to prevent the problem from spreading. The first couple of things that you should do immediately after realizing your home has had a sewage backup are as follows:

1. Be sure to remove any children, pets, and seniors from the home. Do not allow them back into the area until the damage is completely fixed and safe.
2. Keep yourself safe by putting on any protective clothing such as rubber boots, rubber gloves, eye protection, a face mask, and more. 
3. If the distribution panel is above water, switch off the electricity by using a dry wooden stick and rubber gloves. 
4. Turn off the water in your home, and do not use any water for bathing, drinking, washing hands or dishes, and others. This water may be contaminated.
5. You may need to contact your utility companies and have them shut off the supply to your home if you cannot safely turn them off yourself.
6. Open your home’s doors and windows to allow proper air ventilation. You won’t want to use your home’s AC as this will spread contaminated air throughout your home.
7. Remove any items from the area that are dry and not contaminated.
8. You can add small amounts of chlorine bleach into the standing water to slightly disinfect.
9. Contact your insurance company and notify them of the backup. You’ll want to take pictures of any damage that the sewage backup caused. This will come in handy as proof when filing your claim.
10. Never attempt to unclog the drains. You will need to clean up the sewage spill before taking any further action.  

THINGS TO REMEMBER

There are key things to remember when handling sewage spill in your home. Remembering these key tips will help keep your home and family safe, prevent further damage, and ensure that your insurance company has all the documents that they need.

1. Along with providing your pictures, the insurance company will also want you to provide receipts of any work that had to be done due to the backup, of any materials bought to aid in the cleanup and fixing your home, and of any replaced items that were damaged. 
2. Keep the infected area shut off from the rest of the home as best as you can. This includes shutting all doors that attach to the infected area. By keeping the doors shut, there is a less likely chance of contaminated air spreading into the other rooms.
3. Do not use harsh chemicals in your pipes to try to fix the problem. This can cause great damage to your pipes and instead, you’ll want to hire a professional plumber. Professional plumbers know how to properly clean out the pipes. 

HOW TO START CLEANING AND SANITIZING 

Before beginning to clean up the area without a professional, be sure to wear the proper protective gear. You’ll also want to consider the risks of beginning the cleanup on your own. It’s always best to call in the professionals to ensure that the job is done correctly. 

Here are some ways you can begin cleaning up the mess:

1. Use natural draining or a pump to remove any of the backed-up water and sewage. You’ll need to contact the authorities to ask where to properly drain the sewage into.
2. Remove and clean any dirt, or debris from the surfaces that the sewage came into contact with.
3. Properly wash any walls, floors, and other surfaces that the sewage water may have touched. Use a low-suds detergent and clean hot water. 
4. Rinse these surfaces with warm water after cleaning.
5. Sanitize all surfaces with a sanitizing solution. And be sure not to contaminate other rooms by walking into them with dirty shoes.
6. Open any windows and doors leading outside to air out the room.

HOW TO PREVENT A SEWAGE BACKUP

If you’ve experienced a sewage backup in your home, then you understand the importance of taking all appropriate measures to prevent it from happening again. If you’ve never experienced a sewage backup in your home, trust us when we say that you’ll be happy you took the time to read through the steps on preventing it.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent a sewage backup:

1. Have a regular inspection done on all pipes and valves in your home and on your property. Make sure they’re in good condition and receive any needed repairs.
2. Don’t place large amounts of chemical products down into the sewage system.
3. Don’t flush anything other than toilet paper down the toilets.
4. Don’t allow grease to go down the kitchen drain as it may harden in the pipes.
5. Avoid planting trees near the pipes as their roots may cause the pipes to break.

WHEN TO CALL IN THE PROFESSIONALS 

When dealing with a sewage backup, it’s always best to call in the professionals. These are just some steps that you can take to ensure everyone’s safety and to begin the cleaning process, but we highly recommend that you leave it to the professionals to come in and get the job done correctly and safely.

SERVPRO of North Prince William County professionals have the training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to safely clean these messes. Our highly trained team of technicians are ready to respond immediately to flooding from things like heavy rain or a broken pipe or when water damage is caused by an appliance failure or overflowed toilet at your property. Our teams have the experience, expertise, and training to restore your home or business quickly and properly. We use advanced inspection and extraction equipment to find the water and remove it as quickly as possible. Our technicians will monitor and document the drying process to ensure your property is restored back to normal providing you peace of mind. 

Clean air and HVAC efficiency

9/21/2019 (Permalink)

Happy Fall Y’all!

You always hear about Spring Cleaning but what about Fall?  Fall is a time of transition in preparation for Winter and all the holidays that come in between.  That makes it a perfect time to clean out and organize. Those items you haven’t used in years...maybe it’s time to donate them and tidy up your space a bit.

While that’s a great idea and a lot of us do that, there is something else on my mind today.  Air Duct Cleaning. Do you ever think of the air you breathe everyday in your home (or business)?  You may take it for granted but it truly is important to do more than just change the air filter regularly.  Cleaning out the air ducts can improve air quality and HVAC efficiency.  

Now, not everyone needs to do this today.  You should assess your unique situation. Have you had construction or remodeling going on that may have kicked up an inordinate amount of dust/debris?  Do you have mold or moisture concerns? Whatever your situation is Fall is a good time to have your ductwork cleaned out. Your system has been working hard for you all summer and now it may work a little less before gearing up for the winter months. 

Call your SERVPRO, SERVPRO of North Prince William County, if you need your ductwork cleaned.  Remember, we offer a variety of services, so go through your list and see what else you need...we can probably help you with that as well, it doesn’t hurt to ask.  One stop shop!

Enjoy the season!  We got this for you.